Sweet Baby- "It's A Girl!" Eccentric Pop Records Reissue by Danny "Panic" Sullivan

When I first heard about this reissue happening, I was both very excited and wanted to celebrate it in some way! Being that Ramona Confidential has never taken a standard news approach and reviewing a reissue is something I don't generally do, I racked my little Dee Dee brain for inspiration and then it happened, a light turned on! In thinking of this obscure gem being reintroduced to the scene 25 years after it's initial appearance, what better way to mark the occasion than by bringing a well loved member of pop punk's rich lineage out of obscurity to talk about it? That turned my attention directly to Danny "Panic" Sullivan. There's at least a thousand reasons to admire this man in just viewing the monumental contribution he's made as a musician to our community but with the great fortune of  becoming a friend of his over the last year, I've discovered that his well spoken ability to talk about music is also something I enjoy about this architect of the 90's very much! This along with the great love he's expressed for Sweet Baby's "It's A Girl!" made him the perfect and only candidate I desired for the job, so one evening with my "more guts than brains" approach, I asked him if he'd care to write a piece about this record that I could share with you all. Luckily he agreed! Make sure to stop by the Eccentric Pop Records webstore or Interpunk(that's the only place now to get the bonus 7" bundle from!) if you've not preordered the record yet because it is selling FAST. Official release date happens on April 7th for this beautifully put together reissue and this is where my chatter ends. Here he is, the wonderful Danny "Panic" Sullivan giving his personal take on Sweet Baby's "It's A Girl!"     

Sweet Baby "It's A Girl!"

A Wordy Scribe About A Deceptively Smart Album For Romantic Dummies.                   

Sweet Baby - an East Bay pop-punk band that was criminally ignored/underrated during their brief existence & their sole album "It's A Girl!" deserves to be emblazoned in the pantheon of classic albums in our beloved & misanthropic genre of  punk rock.

I was introduced to this prodigious album through a friend/bandmate in a (also) short-lived punk band we were both in. He was one of the lucky few who actually had the vinyl copy of this melodic gem while I had to resign myself to the cassette format (which I had purchased thricely over time due to excessive playing).

The albums' hold on me was immediate for a few good reasons:

1.  Musically - it was an amalgamation of early era Beatles (especially the chord structures & harmonies) & the Ramones (concise & rambunctious).
2.  Lyrically - it tackled all the profundities regarding romance (yearning, having & losing) & the words were sometimes sincere, sometimes humorous & sometimes both.
&
3.  Thirteen songs in  just over twenty five minutes.  Melodic AND economical!

Recorded in 1988 by engineer/producer extraordinaire Kevin Army, "It's A Girl!" has not aged sonically or lyrically (um...correction on my behalf. The song "Telephone Booth" bellies it's lyrical age due to telephone booths being rather scarce as of 2015 compared to the halcyon days of the eighties).

The opening salvo of "It's A Girl!", "Baby, Baby, Baby Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby (I Love You)" (all one minute & eleven seconds of it) signals the intent & nature of the  the album & will not likely be misconstrued as a convoluted civics lesson, an explanation of binary arithmetic or a passionate dissertation of religious or political didacticism. This song would make both the Beatles & the Ramones proud....& there's still twelve to go!

Being that "It's A Girl!" is about a girl, or a myriad of them, the genius prevails throughout the album from the three profundities I mentioned above:

Yearning for the girl- the songs "Two Tons of Dynamite", "There's This Girl" & "Gotta Get A Girl" all exemplify this feeling & the song "This Talk About The Girl" adds an insouciant cognizance towards current events compared to the more topical, more important girl.

Having the girl- from the joyous ("Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby (I Love You)",  "She's From Salinas" & "Resuscitation"), to the demented ("The Way She Gets Around"), these songs exemplify the punch drunk feeling of being in love.

&

Losing the girl- "Year After Year", "Telephone Booth" & "Pathetic" embody the despair of romantic love lost. "Pathetic" has to be quite possibly the most mirthful sounding song in modern recorded music to report on a break-up.

Additional props go to "She's From Salinas" for the Venus de Milo reference (absolutely clever) & their cover of "Daddy Cool" that respects both the Rays & Darts versions, but gives it a British Invasion/punk kick in the proverbial pants.

The album naturally wouldn't exist without the band of course. My appreciations to Dallas-for his sundry, sincere vocals & his engaging charisma throughout the album; Matt-for his knack for brilliant guitar/chord structures & his Lennon-esque backing vocals; Richard - for his bass playing adaptability, switching from Dee Dee Ramone root notes on one song to Paul McCartney walking bass runs on another with such ease & Sergie-for his melodic drumming , encapsulating a saunter & shuffle with punk rock energy.

Thank you Sweet Baby for making, to these eyes, ears, nose & throat, the best East Bay pop-punk album of all time! May this reissue garner the attention "It's A Girl!" & the four of you so richly deserve!

A special thanks to Sara for letting me pontificate, Eccentric Pop Records lovingly reissuing this masterpiece & Scott "Gub" Conway for turning me on to Sweet Baby in the first place.

XO
Danny "Panic" Sullivan
Somewhere on earth...

The Dumbheads- Heartbroken Idiots

As someone who takes the typical, old fart punk rocker route with the digital age, I tend to turn my nose up at it in many ways! There's a certain sense of wonder that the younger generation will never know with the rush that comes from hanging out in a record store for hours, looking for that one big score of the day. Carefully analyzing LP jacket covers and taking in all the sensory elements that just don't exist behind a computer screen are a huge loss in my opinion, but even I will admit there is one thing I really like about these newer times that wasn't so easy before! The part I enjoy most about our little underground world in present day is how much easier it is to discover new bands. That expanded view of what's going on is something that makes this girl Dee Dee rather happy and as a music writer I'm always combing the globe for punk rockers who are deserving of attention! Sometime around the beginning of last year, I came across a demo from a band called The Dumbheads that I really liked. Then through the powers of social networking, I befriended one of their members, Alex Dumbhead. After helping him out with checking the English on some of their lyrics, my interest in the band grew and I've been watching closely to see when the album would happen for this pop punk/punk rock quartet based out of Belgorod, Russia. Fast forward to about a year or so later and it's finally arrived! A collection of songs going under the name of "Heartbroken Idiots" and that's what I'll be recommending today!

The songs were recorded in a few different phases starting with the drums in May of 2014 at Nu Sound Studio by Sergey Androsov who also did mixing and mastering. Next, the guitar and bass parts were tracked at their rehearsal room by a friend of the band named Ivan, and then all vocal parts were completed last during late Summer to mid Fall by the band themselves. Even with the parts being divided this way, the overall sound is seamless and everyone did a great job! The cover art done by Kirill SKVRT is cool, a sketch showing the torso of a punk rocker dressed up in a leather and a Ramones shirt. Classic! I always really like red, white, and black imagery too. This was executed well along with the layout done by Dmitry Bodrov. Dmitry also holds another role in this release by his starting up a label called Pleasant Screams Records to do a short run of CDs for it! Official release happened on February 24th,2015 and is available either on CD as mentioned before or you can also get it digitally on The Dumbheads bandcamp page where it is also streaming in full! As luck has it, their free downloads on bandcamp are used up for now but they want to make sure everyone can still get it at no cost and were awesome enough to provide me with a mediafire link to the MP3s! Click here to be directed to that.

Music is just the same as romance for me. It's gotta grab you in less than a minute and hold your interest without any voluntary efforts. That's when you know it's good, and that was the experience I had heading into the first track, "Hide'n'Seek". Starting with a solid 90's pop punk influenced foundation(from bands like The Riverdales, Hanson Brothers, Huntingtons, and Manges),  then some early punk rock sensibility added in and a few melodic touches, the end result is a highly catchy sound! Alex Dumbhead is a natural with his beautiful voice that commands your attention with it's power as he narrates a frenzied story of terror, being stalked as prey. The kick ass guitars, bass lines, drumming, and solo reveal these boys are well rehearsed and they had me hooked! The mid-tempoed "Wait It Through", a song about getting over a rough time follows and is my absolute favorite of the album. Now it's time for Alex Boozer to step up and do some lead vocals on "Don't Wanna Walk Around With You". Evenly matched to Alex D, he's got a strong tone as well with a more melodic approach and a simple song that's easy to figure out from the title turns out beautifully. The title track "Heartbroken Idiot" comes in fourth. This was the first song I heard from these guys in a demo version and it's nice to hear it with a greater fullness. Simply a message of chasing away a broken heart with booze is something most of us can relate to and it's got a great hook! What I like most about this band is that they don't stay on one track lyrically. They move from dark, to romance, to introspective, and there's some humor to be found as well! "Petfucker Monster(From Outer Space)" made me crack up with laughter. I love seeing bands throw caution to the wind and do something absurd because that's a tradition in our realm! From the very start of punk rock's existence in songs like Beat On The Brat, it's always been there and needs to keep going. That's what separates us from the crybaby emo people! To list a few more highlights, you'll find a fantastic cover of The Kids "Do You Wanna Know?" that I adore , another excellent love song "By My Side" that is my second favorite, and  there's also a wonderfully arranged ballad, "My Love Is True". Things wrap up just as fast as they started with "Bad Trip" and my natural choice is just to go back to the start of the album for a repeat.

"Heartbroken Idiots" is nothing short of a great introduction to some cool rockers from Russia so I most certainly suggest for it to be checked out and added into your rotations. Go like The Dumbheads facebook page because new plans are already in the works with a six song EP set for release in the Fall that they currently are seeking label support for. I think they're definitely worthy of being on vinyl and will be looking forward to hearing that. It's always nice to find a new band to get into because that's something that doesn't happen so often for me these days and I think these boys will be holding my attention for awhile. 

The Dumbheads are...

Alex Boozer- Vocals and Guitar

Mighty- Guitar

Alex Dumbhead- Vocals and Bass

Gleb Hleb- Drums

All songs written by The Dumbheads except for "Do You Wanna Know?", written by The Kids

Tracks

1. Hide'n'Seek

2. Wait It Through

3. Don't Wanna Walk Around With You

4. Heartbroken Idiot

5. Petfucker Monster(From Outer Space)

6. Motherfucker

7. Fuck You

8. Mutated Rats

9. I Can't Stop Staring At You

10. My Love Is True

11. Do You Wanna Know?

12. Stuck In My Head 

13. Dark Eyes

14. By My Side

15. Bad Trip

Drawing Dead- Adieu, Ciao, See You Soon

I was a little late to the party with writing about One Chord Wonder releases when I first reviewed The Manges "Plan Honolulu" just about a year ago but had been paying attention to what this label was doing since it's start! This means I of course was already familiar with a Milan band called Drawing Dead. Consisting of Mega's frontman, OCW's  CEO, and a couple members from Colin Farrell, this band had some promise to catch my interest with their debut self titled record and did! Punk rock that stays close to the elementary principle with a heavy streak of 90's passion is easy for me to love and that's exactly what they do, so it was great news to hear that they'd be starting to record some new material last summer. That's what I'd like to tell you about this time. An album called,  "Adieu, Ciao, See You Soon"!

The songs were recorded and mastered during August of 2014 at New Mood Recording Studio by Frederic Mazzei who also shared the role of producer along with Drawing Dead. Great sound from Freddy as always! The cover art is cool, featuring Stefano Bevilacqua's nicely shot photography of the band paired with a retro image from Django done by Raffaele Carrieri and it worked well! Release happened on January 16th and is a co-production between  One Chord Wonder and Banana Brain of Rufus Recordings Emporium for 150 LPs that come with a download code. 150 CDs were also made possible by Monkeyrite Rec. and Commando Records. Digital only can be found on OCW's bandcamp page and it's streaming in full.

The first thing I noticed in giving the LP a spin is that there is a definite progression in sound from the guys. They already had something cool going in the first record but the presentation this time overall is definitely a lot more polished and I like it! Track one, "Over The Storm" starts things strong and is a Robi tune. This guy is without a doubt, one of the Italian punk rock scene's most magnificent poets, coming in just after greats like Andrea Manges and Chris Polecat for me. He connects to an emotion and the words just build around a great song about moving past a big loss. Next up is a sweeter, mid tempo Dave led one called "Bad Girl" and it's a nice representation of that progression I mentioned with his vocals that have branched out of the rougher more straight punk tone and now offer more of a melodic approach. As a Tough fanatic, "Faster Than Biso" brought a big smile to my face and of course is one of my favorites on this record. Using Biso's drumming speed as a metaphor for the way a woman can quickly break a heart is pretty genius. That's like, lightening fast heartbreak haha! Romantic Dave is terrific(don't get me wrong!) ,but "Target: Lorraine" really shows his wit and sense of humor I like so much, focusing around the scene in Back To The Future where Marty scares the shit out of George and it has a really cool Riverdales influence too. I love that one and as an 80's movie junkie "Teen Wolf" also was a big hit with me. Boof, Stiles, Mick, and van surfing, it's all in there. Yeah! There's a lot of range in the thirteen tracks this album has to offer but the way it ends with two ballad style songs was a great move. Both "Million Piece Puzzle" and "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye?" are beautifully arranged gems.

Somewhere around the release of "Adieu, Ciao, See You Soon", the band played it's last show and parted ways. It's a bummer to see things like that happen. Especially with a band that is steadily developing into something better with each move but hey, that's rock 'n' roll and things ended on a wonderful note with this LP! Make sure to add it to your collection by visiting OCW, Rufus Recordings, or Striped's webstores and stay tuned to each of the guys' individual efforts. Robi, Dave, Lollo, and King Mob are all passionate for what I believe in as a punk rocker and I'm glad they once made up a band called Drawing Dead.

Drawing Dead is...
Robi- Guitar and Vocals
Dave- Bass and Vocals
Lollo- Guitar and Backing Vocals
King Mob- Drums

Additional backing vocals on "Teen Wolf" by Freddy

Keyboard in "Bad Girl" and "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye?" by Greta

All songs written by Drawing Dead

Tracks
Side A
1. Over The Storm
2. Bad Girl
3. Faster Than Biso
4. Target: Lorraine
5. A Coffin For You
6. New Tattoo
7. Blue On Blue
Side B
8. When You Love
9. If You Live, Shoot!
10. Shapeshifter
11. Teen Wolf
12. Million Piece Puzzle 
13. How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye?

Noise By Numbers- High On Drama

While I have nothing but admiration for all architects of pop punk, Dan Vapid is one who not only caught my interest from the very start but has retained it in spades to this very day. This is due to the many solid bands he's fronted/been a part of ever since I knew who he was and the fact that he possesses the capability to seamlessly incorporate different genres into his presence as a songwriter, each time producing a sound that's unique. A perfect example of this happened in late 2009. I was very excited to find out what a newer band fronted by him was all about when I first heard their debut LP, "Yeah, Whatever...". There was this great foundation of 90's melodic punk rock in the songs but they stood out to me for the added touches of alternative rock and sometimes even going into just an atmospheric realm. This newly created entity called Noise By Numbers gained my appreciation fast and the quality of their work only evolved from there through a couple splits, then one more full length release before things fell silent for them shortly after up until most recently! An announcement made last November that there would be an EP of previously recorded material coming out had me totally surprised so I saved the date and waited. That wait is finally over, which makes me very happy so here I am to tell you about "High On Drama"!

The songs were recorded in late 2011 by Jeff Dean and Jon Drew at Million Yen Studios in Chicago. Mixing was done by Jon Drew in Toronto who producer credits also go to along with Noise By Numbers. This is the same team that made up the recording process for "Over Leavitt" and the sound is once again fantastic. The cover art is simple, yet aesthetically pleasing featuring their well known logo against a varied shades of blue background painted by Ashley Fairley who's talents I've been a fan of for the past year. The layout was handled by Rick Uncapher. Digital release already happened on January 20th, courtesy of Jump Start Records. That can be found on iTunes or the label's bandcamp where it's also streaming in full but the good news for all members in the church of vinyl is: Yes! It will be available by the end of this month on either translucent blue or mixed split color. Can't wait to see and own those!

The first and title track "High On Drama" has been streaming ever since the release announcement was made, so I have of course already been in love with it since then. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful this band always is in the first moments of hearing new material from them. The arrangements are intricate and beautifully formed but never overdone and then there's Dan in the front to complete the process with his wonderful voice. The title essentially gives way to the lyrical content and it's a great result! That one song was enough convincing for me to swiftly make my way over to iTunes and download the EP. Previews should always have that effect! After grabbing my headphones, I settled in to hear the rest of the tracks and immediately loved what I heard with the under two and a half minute, hook heavy track two, "Are You Still My Enemy?". It kinda really reminds me of a Sludgeworth song almost with the way it's sang, sounds, and is a fine display of that melodic punk rock they execute so well. Both "Southgate House" that also made an appearance on their split with The Magnificent and "Town Of Hamburg" are two excellent narrative style songs. It's always cool to see a place through someones words and these were well done! Following next is a brilliant cover of The Lemonheads "Rudderless" and it is a perfect example of why I place Dan in the same category as someone like Joey Ramone as a vocalist. While many artists adapt to a cover, vocalists like him make the song adapt to them and that is what makes one worthy of including alongside original material. I had multiple reasons to love this EP as it was, but the last song "Make Up Your Heart" expands the list. This one has a really nice intro that builds to the verse, giving room for an awesome bassline from Rick to stand out and I like the way everything else threads around it. Lovely way to finish things out!

Noise By Numbers is a band that won my heart so quickly and I was nothing short of joyful to hear a little more from them. Not much more to say here other than go stream those songs and stay tuned to their facebook page for details about the LP! "High On Drama" is something I think will make a great addition to anyone's collection and is taking a spot in my best of 2015 already without a second thought. 

Noise By Numbers is...

Dan Schafer- Vocals and Guitar 

Jeff Dean- Guitar 

Rick Uncapher- Bass

Jimmy Lucido- Drums

All songs written by Noise By Numbers except for "Rudderless" by Evan Dando.

Tracks 

1. High On Drama 

2. Are You Still My Enemy?

3. Southgate House

4. Town Of Hamburg 

5. Rudderless 

6. Make Up Your Heart

Senzabenza- Especially For You

A movement cannot exist without it's door openers. In 1989 when Italy's pop punk realm didn't exist just yet, there was a newly formed band named Senzabenza coming out of Latina with an idea that would soon change things. With no constraints from any kind of labeling in a pre-Internet age, they began to play their own conceptualized brand of punk rock called "Flower Punk Rock". This style was absent of the more aggressive and political tones of hardcore punk you'd most often hear in those days, and much more geared towards a melodic sound. They've accomplished a great deal of successes in the 26 years of their existence and are very responsible for helping others like the Manges get exposure in their early days on the wonderful Flower Punk Rock Compliation CD they released in 95'. Plain and simple, this band is to be admired for being the spark to a now rich history of pop punk that vibrantly endures in Italy to this day. 2003 was the last year to see a release from Senzabenza and it is my great pleasure to write about them for the first time today because they have a great new single 7" out called "Especially For You"!  

The songs were recorded during November of 2014 at New Mood Recording Studio by Frederic Mazzei. I've been a fan of his work from the Proton Packs to more recently with Tough and once again, he's upheld the same level of quality in sound! The cover art and layout is pleasantly uncomplicated, pairing studio imagery with their name. Official release happened on January 16th from One Chord Wonder who has proved itself to be a solid advocate for quality Italian bands over the last year and a half of it's operation. The 7" is highly limited with an already sold out special edition of only 20 copies featuring a photo story cover and then the still available 200 regular edition copies on black vinyl. A digital download code is of course included. Digital only can be purchased through the OCW bandcamp page and you can stream it there in full too.

Two songs await to be played on the record that will appeal to any punk rocker with a quickness! Side A features the original and title track, "Especially For You" which is simply a good pop punk song and exactly the kind I prefer. More punk than pop! Remember when someone would say "pop punk" and that's what you could expect? I miss that dearly and these veterans restore that purity with melodically heavy guitars, a fast and steady tempo from the drums, then Nando's great vocals that deliver a relatable message of annoyance in the lyrics. The B side has a unique choice of cover. Originally a country song, "Wichita Lineman" has made quite the journey through many different genres since it's start in 1968, being covered by anyone from Johnny Cash to Ray Charles and this time gets translated to Flower Punk Rock! The song works well in Senzabenza's style with some cool leads played over the chorus and a nice solo. 

I really enjoy seeing longtime bands like Senzabenza still coming to the table with new material after all these years because the beautiful lineage that's delivered in the way they play is more than needed. Especially to the youngest wave in our scene that sometimes needs to be reminded where it comes from! Pick up this little gem from One Chord Wonder or Striped Music(who also has some kick ass old school t-shirts of theirs available!) before it's gone and stay tuned to the guys' facebook page for all upcoming news if you haven't yet! 

Senzabenza is...

Nando Ferdinandi- Vocals and Guitar

Sebi Filgi- Guitar 

Massy Raimondi- Bass

Max Bergo- Drums  

Tracks

Side A

Especially For You

Side B

Wichita Lineman

The Hallingtons- Alien Girl EP

As a fan of bands like The Yum Yums, The Promdates, and The Dahlmanns, Norway is a place that has held a good reputation with me for quite some time. It's always nice to discover another cool one from there and I believe I first heard of The Hallingtons close to a couple years ago. Their name was appealing to me so checking them out seemed to have some promise and that hunch was right! Established since 2009, they've been another solid glimmer of hope for Ramones worshiping pop punk and I've been fond of what they do since the first listen, but have never gotten the chance to write about them. A new EP they just put out called "Alien Girl" has grown on me quickly so that all changes now!

The songs were recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced from the Summer to early Winter of 2014 by The Hallingtons themselves. The cover art featuring a cute and retro looking pinup alien girl posing on her home planet was done by Mikel, making this a  DIY effort all the way through. I think it's admirable to see bands take the initiative like that to get their music heard and the end result is great! Release happened on last Thursday and was made available as a digital download by RTTB Records on their bandcamp page. It's also streaming in full so check it out!

I first heard the title track, "Alien Girl" as a part of the "Tales From The Pop Punk World Vol. 2" monster comp that RTTB released last month and liked it right away. Simply, it's just a catchy little love song about falling in love with an alien girl visiting from another planet but the style of pop punk/punk rock they play is always welcome with me. Definitely melodic, inspired from the genre's golden age, and not over complicated. Jørgen has a very bubblegum quality to his voice and that's something I was drawn to as someone who's into bands like the Beatnik Termites. You don't see it happen too much these days! It's funny I made this reference because coming in right after is a cover of "You Sound Like You're Sick" from Pleasant Dreams which the Termites also did a hell of a job covering entirely. Out of the Ramones discography, the songs from that record transition well for poppier bands and it did for The Hallingtons too. Tor takes the lead on vocals this time, adding in a little diversity with his more powerful tone and it worked out just fine! Four more original tunes follow showing their no nonsense early punk rock with a streak of sweetness approach ranging in subject from silly to sci-fi. The almost one and a half minute tongue-in-cheek ode of distaste for poseurs called "Part Time Punks" was my favorite of those with it's more aggressive approach, catchy bass lines from Mikel, and great hook. The EP ends with another well loved classic which is The Queers' "I Met Her At The Rat", once again having a heavy dose of the guys' persona with both Jørgen and Tor singing. It's important for songs like that to survive and be handed down to influence the next generation. Good choice!

"Alien Girl" took very little effort for me to get into and if you dig the classic approach, I think you'll be into it as well. Add the release to your digital collection and the guys are already working on new material so stay tuned to The Hallingtons facebook page to see what's next!

 The Hallingtons are...

Mikel Hallington- Bass and Vocals

Jørgen Hallington- Guitar and Vocals 

Tor Hallington- Drums and Vocals

All songs written by Jørgen Hallington except for: "Saucermen" by Andy Hallington, "You Sound Like You're Sick" by Dee Dee Ramone and "I Met Her At The Rat" by Joe Queer.

Tracks 

1. Alien Girl

2. You Sound Like You're Sick

3. Slob 

4. Part Time Punks

5. I Don't Wanna Go To Work

6. Saucermen

7. I Met Her At The Rat

Best Of 2014!

Gabba gabba hey, punk rockers! I can't believe how quickly a year has already flown by being the first in my little adventure as a Resident Riff Randell, solo rock 'n' roll writer aka Ramona Confidential. Well technically, since I didn't start up until March but hey! Close enough. By the grace of Dee Dee I made it and what an INCREDIBLE one it was for punk rock. I don't think I've witnessed a year this abundant in good releases in a long time and have never gotten the chance to do one of these official list things, so I thought I'd give it a go. Each album's corresponding review is linked on the title just in case you missed it or more importantly, still need to get the record. An enormous thank you from the bottom of my heart sent to everyone who supported this little zine and here it is without any further delay, the best 2014 had to offer according to me!

Top Ten LPs 
1. The Manges- All Is Well

This record was proof that you can strip away all modern popular studio techniques/production from a punk rock record and have an end result that is still very punk. It was a much welcomed surprise to see a collection of songs take shape like "All Is Well", with the pure simplicity of what punk rock is at it's heart and foundation. That lesson The Manges gave is one our little universe desperately needs right now if it is to continue. Remember where it started!! 

2. Giant Eagles- Giant Egos
Have you ever had a record take over your life, like out of nowhere? THIS is it for me. I had already heard a few songs on their facebook page and liked them quite a bit but really had no clue what I was in for on the morning I wrote to Marien inquiring about where to hear it just after "Giant Egos" was released. This "Best 80ties Synth-Ramonescore ever" is truly the most addictive and unique thing I've heard in the last decade and I can't wait to see what's next from these boys.

3. The Mugwumps- Mutation In The Family
The equivalent of love at first sight, that is what this band is to me. "Mutation In The Family" was like reuniting with a long lost love after years of thinking it would never happen and picking up in the moment as if no time were ever missed. Chris, Hank, and Andi collectively possess a dynamic that isn't common, and everything pop punk should be. These songs kicked my ass and were beautiful at the same time. I listen to them just as much as Banana Brain's and that is no surprise.  

4. CJ Ramone- Last Chance To Dance
As I said in my review a couple weeks ago, this year was tough for Ramones fans. We lost Tommy and it tore my heart out. It was hard, but to witness CJ put out a wonderful record and get the bigger label support he very much deserves gave me such a happy feeling. True self expression is the most fundamental element of an artist and I adore the way CJ never backs down from who he is as a punk rocker. That is the Ramones way of life, that is what "Last Chance To Dance" is, and he is my hero for honoring the legacy. Ramones forever. 

5. The Windowsill- Showboating
2014 was one hell of a year for Marien Nicotine as a songwriter! This band already had my attention with their powerful debut and "Showboating" captured me every bit as easily. The Windowsill is proof that you can play pop punk with a heavy injection of pop and not once venture into sounding cheesy. These songs are great and I might as well just buy a sleeping bag for this LP to stay next to my turntable because that is it's most frequent place of residence. 

6. The Apers- Confetti On The Floor
Holy shit I was on cloud ten to see The Apers come back with a new full legnth. This band's passion burns just as bright as it did from day one and what a fun record "Confetti On The Floor" is! Kevin Aper is the master of making sure things stay away from getting so damn emo and I don't think I've smiled that much to hear a record in such a long time. True pop punk is here to stay as long as these pioneers are around and I'm so glad for that. 

7. The Putz- Knock It Off
The American scene can be a tough sell for me within it's current wave due to the loss of tradition but this is a record that shows it still exists in the land where the genre was created. The Putz are the kind of guys that if I knew nothing about them in a first listen, I'd be wondering why I missed out on a killer Lookout band! They are that good and "Knock It Off" is an instant classic that I am happy to have in my collection.
8. DeeCRACKS- Beyond Medication
Austria is home to not one, but two of my favorite bands in the moment and it was fantastic to see DeeCRACKS step forward with a solid release as well! "Beyond Medication" has fifteen songs that hold a perfect balance of in your face roughness, pretty melodies, and newer elements of experimentalism. Plain and simple, it is a staple for any self respecting punk rocker's collection this year for the level of quality you can always count on from them brightly shining through.   

9. Proton Packs- Space Opera

A concept album is one of the riskiest moves a band can make. The story has to be strong, interesting, backed with 100% conviction, and The Proton Packs precisely understood that when they stepped into the studio to record "Space Opera". It's like a 70's sci-fi thriller movie you can hear and I've listened to it over and over. Everything about this record is bold from the music to the cover art and it proves punk rock can not only bring a complex idea to life, but do it well.
10. The Bat Bites- The Bat Bites
I'll be the first to admit that my musical taste is one that's heavily ruled by male artists, but there's nothing more I love to see than a hard working woman stand next to the boys and kick ass. While The Bat Bites have that super cool male/female shared vocal dynamic, I very much admire Merel's skill as a songwriter. "The Bat Bites" was a total evolution in her and the rest of the band's presence. All you gotta do to confirm that is listen.  

Top Five 7"s/EPs

1. Tough- Obey The Ramones
Full passion. That is Tough in two words. I love them always for remaining intently focused on the path that was paved by our founding fathers of punk rock to keep things simple, catchy, and intense. "Obey The Ramones" was the next step in their journey showing that four songs can have all the punch required to make a strong impression and I've listened to them repeatedly for it. The world is all the better with bands who maintain an uncluttered philosophy and Tough is a fine example of that.

2. Travoltas- The Longest Wait

This band's return to a scene that never got over their leaving was the biggest miracle of the year! My level of devotion to the Travoltas surpassed the atmosphere on the morning I heard "The Longest Wait" because not only were they back, but they were also better than ever. The beauty of these songs brought a little more sun back into our lives and I am so glad to see that it looks like the guys will be sticking around. I have nothing but full anticipation to hear what they do next.
3. The Nuts- The Nuts

I had the total honor of being a close observer in watching The Nuts become one of the quickest growing bands this year! Due to their high level of commitment, this relatively new entity led by an amazing woman(another one, hooray!) made big strides gaining experience and produced a fantastic debut 7". These girls and guy have something very special and I can't wait to see where they go from already such a exciting start.
4. Doctor Frank &The Bye Bye Blackbirds- Even Hitler Had A Girlfriend

2014 seems to have been the doorway for many great creators to return. Just when I thought it couldn't get any cooler, Dr. Frank showed up and made it so! With a talented backing band, he brought these two well loved classic songs even more to life and that was a perfect start to all the activity he's had this year. A new single and several live performances with a full band transpiring since then seem to suggest the doctor is back in. That can only be a good thing.  
5. The Manges- Lone Commando(All Is Well)/Steadfast Tin Solider

Singles with two A sides are a rarity that should be celebrated! Out of all new Manges releases that happened, this is the only one I didn't cover but it's still going on my list as a result of that. I loved the idea of a single 7" that included their title track from "All Is Well" but there was a big surprise waiting to be discovered. With some different elements of instrumentation and flawless arrangement, "Steadfast Tin Solider" is a song of the year and definitely an A side too.

Best Label 

Monster Zero- Without a second thought in the matter, they were the strongest force out there this year as far as record labels are concerned for me. Kevin Aper and his team's unwavering commitment to giving underground music the support it needs to be heard is beautiful and I wish them all the success in the world for it. They ruled my list this time and I will definitely be there to support them as we move into 2015. Thank you Monster Zero!

Best Distro
Striped Music- Good things grow. After taking a brief hiatus in the late Summer, Striped Music came back with an even bigger presence of passion and professionalism. Now fully licensed, they are ready to take on a whole lot more with distribution for some big names but that's not all! Striped Records is also up and running once more with a killer release to mark the occasion. Andrea, Linda, and the rest of the Striped family are part of the reason this all keeps going so give them your business!  

Best Studios

Out of everything I heard this year, these were the two that really came through with amazing sound. Consider these studios and their wonderfully talented people for any of your recording/mastering needs!
T.U.P. Studio
Simon Baken Audio Engineering

Best Podcast
Jughead's Basement- After crossing over September, this podcast now has two years under it's belt and is only getting better with the level of meticulous work John pours into each episode. In the newest, we got a rare look into the world of The Vindictives and their masterpiece of a record, "Hypno-Punko". I adore this show for giving importance to so many people who deserve it and will always be a listener for that. He's got a lot more on the way so stay tuned!

MVP(Most Valuable Punk Rocker) Of The Year 
You-  Yes, you. Whether you are in a band, running a label or distro, promoting shows, writing reviews, or simply just present to support it as a fan, you are a vital part of this community. Over the years I've watched things change a lot for underground pop punk/punk rock but if you are there, that means hope is too for it to continue existing. This is such a little passionate niche in music that I still believe in so much, so thank you for making it possible.      

Special thanks to the following people who have kept me going in pursuing this little dream with their support, kindness, and help that I am beyond lucky to have: Andrea Manges, Valentina De Rosa, Chris Polecat, B-Face, John Jughead Pierson, Danny Panic, Phil Nieswender, Scott Matthews, Joey Vindictive, John Proffitt Jr., and Leah Alex Lehmann.